With regard to the taunts levelled at the Liberal Unionists
for supporting a Tory Government, Mr. Chamberlain insisted once more on the transformation which has taken place in the significance of names, when a so-called Tory Government brings in and passes a series of measures far more Liberal than could have been got a very few years ago out of any Liberal Govern- ment, however advanced. On the other hand, it was impossible not to be puzzled at the claim of such a politician as Lord Randolph Churchill to be called a Tory. The creed which he professes is a thing of shreds and patches, like a patchwork quilt,—what they call in the United States " a crazy quilt,"— his Socialism begged of Mr. Burns and Mr. Hyndman, his "Local Option" of Sir Wilfrid Lawson, his Egyptian policy of Mr. Illingworth, his Metropolitan reform of Professor Stuart, and his Irish policy of Mr. John Morley. Under these circumstances, though Lord Randolph boasts of being a Tory, and has offered to represent the Tories in Central Birming- ham, it is the Gladstonians who are likely to vote for him if he stands, which is about the wisest thing they could do ; but that hardly shows that the Tories of Birmingham are labouring under any great grievance if they would be satisfied by getting Lord Randolph to represent them. Still, Mr. Chamberlain is disposed to hand over one at least of the Birmingham seats which the Liberal Unionists would, under the general treaty between the Tories and Liberal Unionists, be entitled to keep, to the Tories, if on a fair and impartial canvas of Birming- ham, it should be found that the nominal Tories are very much under-represented in Birmingham. Yet the Tories must remember that neither in Aston nor in East Birmingham could they hold the seat without the hearty and loyal support of the Liberal Unionists.
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